Luke 12

Beware of Hypocrisy

1Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so many that they were trampling one another. Jesus began speaking first to his disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not become known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you whispered in someone’s ear in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops. 4“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more. 5I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. 8I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 9But whoever denies me before people will be denied before God’s angels. 10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you should answer or what you should say, 12because the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you should say.”

The Rich Fool

13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or divider over you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed, because a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16He told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17He began reasoning within himself, ‘What should I do? I have nowhere to store my crops.’ 18Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods. 19I will say to my life, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your life is being demanded back from you. The things you prepared—whose will they be?’ 21So it is with the one who stores up treasure for themselves and is not rich toward God.”

Seek the Kingdom

22Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you: do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, they have neither storeroom nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25Which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to your span of life? 26If you cannot do even this small thing, why be anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither labor nor spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 28If God clothes the grass this way—alive in the field today and tomorrow thrown into an oven—how much more will he clothe you, you of little trust! 29Do not keep seeking what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be unsettled. 30The nations of the world seek all these things, but your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be Ready and Faithful

35“Keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 36Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him immediately. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will fasten his own belt, have them recline at the table, and come serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch or even the third and finds them ready, blessed are they. 39But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” 41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?” 42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward whom the master will put over the household to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing so when he comes. 44Truly I tell you, he will put that servant over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time to come,’ and begins beating male and female servants and eating, drinking, and getting drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him in two and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47That servant who knew the master’s will but did not prepare or act according to it will receive many blows. 48But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows will receive few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Fire, Division, and Discernment

49“I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52From now on five in one house will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided:
father against son and son against father,
mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and it happens. 55When the south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky. Why do you not know how to interpret this present time? 57And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you go with your accuser to a magistrate, make every effort to settle with them along the way, so that they do not drag you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will certainly not get out until you have paid the last small coin.”